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What Is SSL & Why It Makes Your Website More Secure.

A Beginner's Guide to SSL:

Have you ever noticed that some URLs start with “http://“ while others start with "https://"? Perhaps you noticed that extra "s" when you were browsing websites that require giving over sensitive information, like when you were paying bills online.

But where do that extra "s" come from, and What does it mean?

To put it simply, the extra "s" means your connection to that website is encrypted so hackers can't intercept any of your data. The technology that powers that little "s" is called SSL, and SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer.

“Over the past few months we’ve been running tests taking into account whether sites use secure, encrypted connections as a signal in our search ranking algorithms. We've seen positive results, so we're starting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal.”

How can I tell if a website has SSL?

When you visit a website, there are a few clear-cut differences that display within the browser.

The URL says "https://" and not "http://".

2) You'll see a little padlock icon in the URL bar.

It'll show up either on the left- or right-hand size of the URL bar, depending on your browser. You can click on the padlock to read more information about the website and the company that provided the certificate.

3) The certificate is valid.

Even if a website has the "https://" and a padlock, the certificate could still be expired -- meaning your connection wouldn't be secure.

To find out whether the certificate is valid, click on the padlock and choose "Certificate Information." That will take you to a certification authority page, which'll show you the time frame of the certificate. Notice the two fields toward the bottom of the screenshot below: "Not Valid Before" and "Not Valid After." If the "Not Valid After" date is in the past, then the certificate has expired.

How can I get an SSL certificate for my website?

If you're looking to get an SSL certificate for your website, you'll need to figure out which type of certificate you needs.

First, consider how many certificates you need and which domains you need to secure. For example, you may want to secure your blog, your website, and your landing pages. In that case, depending on how each is configured, you may need to purchase a specific type of certificate from SSL certificate authorities like NETCONE.COM .

SSL is available for purchase. To find out more, contact us , or visit our pricing page.

One of the other key condition is the validity period of a certification. Most standard SSL certificates are available for one to two years by default, but if you're looking for longer-term options, then look into more advanced certificates that offer longer time periods.